2023 has been the year of AI innovation and development. The notion of AI had seemed like a distant future development for many until the release of ChatGPT and subsequent chatbots. Within the timeframe of a single year, these AIs have undergone multiple updates and have refined their responses. On the other hand, we have simultaneously been met with unprecedented threats from AI in the form of misinformation and deepfakes as well.
A lot has happened in 2023 with regard to AI including the Silicon Valley drama regarding the CEO of Open AI, the UK court barring AI patenting and Open AI being sued for copyright violations. AI has been stirring the news a lot this year because of its nascent nature, inviting curiosity and doubt.
While we struggle to process its advent, the technology has chucked more information in the form of its updates at us than most can handle. Since information is being catapulted at us at an alarming rate, it has also caused a lot of fearmongering (in the case of deepfakes, potential job losses, and AI porn, rightfully so) while offering a lot of promise for future innovation. It is yet to be fully understood how we are to be impacted by the development in the long term.
This year saw some significant innovations within AI which is being seen as a leap in the direction of stronger and more advanced future AIs.
Key Innovations in AI
In 2023, significant advancements in AI were marked by three key innovations:
Multimodality:
This year saw the emergence of powerful multimodal AI models such as OpenAI’s GPT-4 and Google DeepMind’s Gemini. What makes them notable is their ability to process various types of data, including text, images, video, and audio. Multimodal AI allows users to interact with AI systems using a diverse range of inputs, such as uploading images or communicating through voice commands. The large-scale potential in multimodality lies in its ability to enhance the power of AI models by training them on several new sets of data which ultimately is about moving closer to the goal of achieving artificial general intelligence.
Constitutional AI:
This AI addresses the challenge of aligning AI systems with human values and was introduced by researchers at Anthropic. It involves creating a “constitution” that outlines the desired values. The AI is then trained to come up with responses based on alignment with this constitution and by minimizing reliance on human feedback. This approach aims to offer more accurate control over AI behavior with fewer human labels. While challenges remain, constitutional AI presents a crucial strategy for ensuring AI systems adhere to defined values. If constitutional AI is perfected, we will then have an AI innovation that produces more accurate results than it does now.
Text-to-Video Tools:
The influx of investment in AI led to the rapid development of text-to-video tools. Companies like Runway and Pika AI have been innovating by enabling users to generate videos from text prompts and even alter the style of existing videos based on input through text. This trend not only has an impact on creative industries but it can also potentially affect jobs. It also aims to democratize filmmaking and content creation by making these tools accessible to a broader audience. The rise of text-to-video tools signifies a tectonic shift in how human creativity is expressed and emphasizes the transformation of ideas over technical expertise.
These innovations highlight the continued evolution of AI capabilities and their integration into various aspects of daily life, from communication to creativity. While bringing about unprecedented possibilities, these advancements also raise questions about governance, ethical questions, and the impact on industries and jobs.
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